Resilient push-pull exerciser

ABSTRACT

A physical exerciser having two elongated members positioned within the first and second tubular members so as to permit the elongated and tubular members to telescope one within the other. A handle is are carried by each of the tubular and elongated members on the ends thereof remote from one another. One or more resilient members may be disposed within the tubular members to resist movement of the handles towards one another enabling physical exercises to be performed. Two lengths of rope are positioned between the handles to provide for another exercise. Pulling exercises are performed by pulling the rope lengths apart to cause the handles to move towards one another. Each resilient member is compressible. The various constructions of one or more exerciser disclosed embody particularly advantageous arrangements of the resilient members relative to the tubular members. Resilient members may be connected between a bush on one elongated member and a flange on the other member. Other resilient members may be positioned between the flange and one handle and between the bush and the other handle.

[451 Sept. 18,1973

Cox

1 1 RESILIENT PUSH-PULL EXERCISER [75] Inventor: John William Cox, London, England [73] Assignee: Compret N.V., Amsterdam,

Netherlands [22] Filed: June 7, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 150,648

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 11, 1970 Great Britain 28,426/70 Oct. 7, 1970 Great Britain 47,693/70 [52] US. Cl. 272/83 R, 272/D1G. 5, 272/79 R,

272/82 [51] Int. Cl A63b 21/00 [58] Field of Search 272/82, 83, 79 R, 272/D1G. 5, 67, 68,- 79, 80; 267/153 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,614,084 10/1971 Brown 267/153 2,106,994 2/1938 Chapman.. 272/83 R 2,132,862 10/1938 Pilates 2'72/83 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 968,180 7/1964 Great Britain 272/82 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne AttorneyKarl W. Flocks 57] ABSTRACT A physical exerciser having two elongated members positioned within the first and second tubular members so as to permit the elongated and tubular members to telescope one within the other. A handle is carried by each of the tubular and elongated members on the ends thereof remote from one another. One or more resilient members may be disposed within the tubular members to resistmovement of the handles towards one another enabling physical exercises to be performed. Two lengths of rope are positioned between the handles to provide for another exercise. Pulling exercises are performed by pulling the rope lengths apart to cause the handles to move towards one another. Each resilient member is compressible. The various constructions of one or more exerciser disclosed embody particularly advantageous arrangements of the resilient members relative to the tubular members. Resilient members may be connected between a bush on one elongated member and a flange on the other member. Other resilient members may be positioned between the flange and one handle and between the bush and the other handle. 1

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP] 8 I975 sum" 1 OF 2 INVENTOR- JOHN WILLIAM (0) BY KnRL b! F n'rramvn PATENTED SEP! 8 m3 SHEET 2 BF 2 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION This invention relates to a physical exerciser to be used for a large variety of physical exercises for training and strengthening the muscular system of the human body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a physical exerciser comprising first and second elongated members, mounting means to permit the members to slide longitudinally relative to one another, first and second handles respectively carried by the members on the ends thereof remote from one another and compressible resilient means acting between the members so that the resilient means is compressed upon sliding movement of the members when the handles are moved'towards one another.

According to one preferred embodiment there is provided a physical exerciser comprising a first tubular member and a second tubular member slidably mounted therein first and second handles respectively carried by the members on the ends thereof remote from one another and a concertina spring disposed within the first and second members compressed upon sliding movement of the members when the handles are moved towards one another.

According to a second preferred embodiment there is provided a physical exerciser comprising a first tubular member, a second elongated member slidably mounted in the first member, first and second handles respectively carried by the members on the ends thereof remote from one another, a multiplicity of compressible resilient balls arranged between the end of the second elongated member remote from the second handle and the end of the first tubular member carrying the first handle to be compressed upon sliding movement of the members when the handles are moved towards one another.

According to a third preferred embodiment there is provided a physical exerciser comprising a first tubular member having a bush at one end thereof, a second elongated memberhaving a flange at one end thereof and being received in an aperture'in said bush to be slidably mounted in the first member with its flange as a sliding fit within the first member, first and second handles carried by the members on the ends thereof respectively remote from the bush and the flange and compressible resilient means disposed between the flange and the first handle to be compressed upon sliding movement of the members when the handles are moved towards one another.

Advantageously, this exerciser further comprises extensible resilient means arranged between the bush and the flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows, partially in section, a first physical exerciser;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the concertina spring of the physical exerciser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows schematically a second physical exerciser also partially in section;

FIG. 4 shows a modification to the physical exerciser of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows schematically a third physical exerciser again partially in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Like parts are identified by the same reference numerals in each of the figures of the drawing.

Referring to FIG. 1, the physical exerciser shown has an inner metal tubular member I and an outer tubuler member 2, each having a handle 4. The tubular members l and 2 are arranged to form a telescopic unit. The spacing between the tubular members 1 and 2 is exaggerated to simplify the drawing, there being a sliding fit between them.

The handles 4 are hollow, being moulded from plastics material in two parts. A spigot 3 extends from the hand grip portion of each handle 4 and is received as a frictional fit in its respective tube 1, 2. For this purpose the spigots 3 are formed with splines 16 to ensure that their attachment is secure. The hand grip portions of the handles 4 are provided with depressions 15 to receive the fingers of a person using the physical exerciser.

The telescopic unit is axially compressible against the bias of a concertina spring 5 which is arranged within the tubes 1, 2 between the spigots 3 of the handles 4. Preferably the concertina spring 5 is fabricated from flat steel strip of 15 mm width.

The physical exerciser is provided with an endless rope l2 joining the handles 4 in order that the physical exerciser can be used for expansion (pulling) exercises, in addition to compression (pushing) exercises. By pulling the two lengths of the rope l2 transversely of the physical exerciser the telescopic unit is compressed against the bias of the concertina spring 5. Compression exercises are carried out by the user gripping one of the handles 4 in either hand and urging the handles 4 together against the bias of the concertina spring 5.

It is possible to employ a rope 12. comprising two separate parts arranged between the handles 4 on diametricallyopposite sides of the telescopic unit. The length of each part of the rope 12 is selected to ensure that in the relaxed attitude of the exerciser the concertina spring 5 remains under compression.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawing, the physical exerciser shown is generally similar to that described with reference to FIG. 1. This physical exerciser comprises a first tubular member 1 carrying at its outer end a handle 4 and an elongated member 8 attached at its outer end to a similar handle 4. The member 8 is telescopically slidable within the tube 1 and a sliding fit through a bush 7 at the inner end of the tube 1. The member 8 carries at its inner end a flange 17 which is a sliding fit within the tube 1. At least one extensible resilient member 16 extends between and is secured to the bush 7 and the flange 17. A rope having two lengths 12 extends between the handles 4, The rope may be endless passing through apertures 13, 14 in the handles 4 or it may be in two separate lengths secured to the hand grips. A second tubular member 2 is secured to the handle 4 (of the member 8) to embrace the tube 1.

In the physical exerciser shown in FIG. 3 the resilient member 116 may be a single coil spring embracing the member 8 and secured at its ends to the bush 7 and the flange 17. Alternatively the member 116 could be a multiplicity of coil springs surrounding the member 8 and also secured to the bush 7 and the flange 17. It will be understood that whatever the nature of the member 16 it is so arranged in relation to the lengths of rope 12 that the member 116 remains in slight tension when these lengths are taut.

In FIG. 3, chain lines 18 indicate compressible resilient means extending between the flange l7 and the closed end of the tube 1 adjacent the handle 4. The resilient means 18 could be a single coil compression spring (FIG. 4) one or more concertina springs formed from a strip of resilient material (FIG. 1) or the space between the flange 8 and the closed end of the tube 1 could be wholly or partially filled with compressible material (see FIG. Such compressible material could comprise a number of balls of rubber, sponge rubber, or plastics material either solid or hollow.

FIG. 4 shows a further modification in which a coil compression spring 19 is shown embracing the member 8 to act between the bush 7 and the closed end of the tube 2 adjacent its handle 4. Again it will be understood that the spring 19 could be replaced by one or more concertina springs as described above or a multiplicity of balls or blocks of compressible material of annular formation. In addition FIG. 4 shows the resilient means 18 in the form of a coil spring embracing a rod 20 extending coaxially through the tube 1 from its handle 4 and having its forward end slidable through the flange 17 to extend within the member 8 which in such case is of tubular form.

It will be understood that the resilient means serving to resist movement of the handles 4 towards each other may be solely compressible in any of the forms described. When coil compression springs are employed it would be advantageous to encase them in sleeves of plastics material.

FIG. 5 of the drawing shows a third physical exerciser arrangement of simplified construction generally similar to that shown in FIG. 1, where the member 8 is in the form of a piston directly slidable within the tube 1 and a multiplicity of resilient balls 18 is disposed between the inner end -21 of the member 8 and the end of the tube 1 closed by its handle 4. As described above the balls 18 may be of rubber, sponge rubber or other resilient material either solid or hollow.

In each of the arrangements shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 the spigots 3 are not shown. It will be appreciated that it is a simple matter to mount the member 8 in the spigot 3 of the handle 4 carried by the tube 2. For this purpose the spigot 3 can be provided with a recess in which the outer end of the member 8 is a frictional fit.

In all the above arrangements it will be understood that the apparatus may be provided with a sliding scale performance meter by calibrating the outer surface of the tube 1 with graduations.

I claim:

1. A physical exerciser comprising an assembly constituted by first and second tubular members arranged in telescopic relationship with the first and second tubular members constrained for axial movement relative to one another, said first tubular member being positioned within said second tubular member and having a sliding fit within the second tubular member; constraining means for resisting inward displacement of handles on said first and second tubular members and said means being wholly within the assembly to additionally constrain the first and second tubular members to axial movement relative to one another; first and second handles carried by the first and second tubular members at the ends thereof remote from one another, respectively; said constraining means including an elongate member carried by and extending away from said second handle, a flange carried on the elongate member at the end thereof remote from the second handle with the flange and said flange being positioned inside the first tubular member and having a sliding fit within the first tubular member, and a bush through which the elongate member slidably fits and through which the elongate member projects into the first tubular member, said bush being located at the end of the first tubular member remote from the first handle, and a compressible resilient means for resisting the axial displacement of the first and second handles relative to one another; and said compressible resilient means being arranged wholly between the flange and the first handle.

2. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 wherein said constraining means further include a rod carried by and extending from the first handle through the flange which is apertured to receive the rod with a sliding fit.

3. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 said compressible resilient means further comprising an additional resisting member disposed between and abutting at its ends the bush and the second handle.

4. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 wherein the said compressible resilient means further comprises a concertina spring.

5. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 wherein the said compressible resilient means further comprises a series of compressible resilient balls.

6. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 further comprising an additional resisting means, said last mentioned means including a single coil spring which embraces the elongate member and which is disposed between and is attached at its respective ends to the bush and the flange.

7. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 further comprising an additional resisting means including a member having a multiplicity of coil springs which are disposed around the elongate member and which extend between and are attached at its respective ends to the bush and the flange.

8. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 further comprising two ropes each extending between the first and second handles and of such a length to cause the said resisting means to remain in tension when said exerciser is not in use. 

1. A physical exerciser comprising an assembly constituted by first and second tubular members arranged in telescopic relationship with the first and second tubular members constrained for axial movement relative to one another, said first tubular member being positioned within said second tubular member and having a sliding fit within the second tubular member; constraining means for resisting inward displacement of handles on said first and second tubular members and said means being wholly within the assembly to additionally constrain the first and second tubular members to axial movement relative to one another; first and second handles carried by the first and second tubular members at the ends thereof remote from one another, respectively; said constraining means including an elongate member carried by and extending away from said second handle, a flange carried on the elongate member at the end thereof remote from the second handle with the flange and said flange being positioned inside the first tubular member and having a sliding fit within the first tubular member, and a bush through which the eLongate member slidably fits and through which the elongate member projects into the first tubular member, said bush being located at the end of the first tubular member remote from the first handle, and a compressible resilient means for resisting the axial displacement of the first and second handles relative to one another; and said compressible resilient means being arranged wholly between the flange and the first handle.
 2. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 wherein said constraining means further include a rod carried by and extending from the first handle through the flange which is apertured to receive the rod with a sliding fit.
 3. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 said compressible resilient means further comprising an additional resisting member disposed between and abutting at its ends the bush and the second handle.
 4. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 wherein the said compressible resilient means further comprises a concertina spring.
 5. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 wherein the said compressible resilient means further comprises a series of compressible resilient balls.
 6. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 further comprising an additional resisting means, said last mentioned means including a single coil spring which embraces the elongate member and which is disposed between and is attached at its respective ends to the bush and the flange.
 7. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 further comprising an additional resisting means including a member having a multiplicity of coil springs which are disposed around the elongate member and which extend between and are attached at its respective ends to the bush and the flange.
 8. A physical exerciser as defined in claim 1 further comprising two ropes each extending between the first and second handles and of such a length to cause the said resisting means to remain in tension when said exerciser is not in use. 